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07/10/2003
Government welcomes rise in vocational degree places
The government has said that there will be an extra 10,000 places on foundation degree courses next year, "giving more people a chance to study for a vocationally-focused higher education qualification".
The new degrees aim to increase the number of people qualified at higher technician and associate professional level - like legal executives, engineering technicians, personnel officers, laboratory technicians and teaching assistants.
The increase announced today should mean at least 70,000 full and part time students are studying for the degrees in two years time, up from the 12,400 that were on courses last year.
Figures from the universities admissions service, UCAS, show that more students are choosing the degrees and more institutions are offering them. They will be able to bid for the extra places and for funds to develop new programmes.
Education Minister Alan Johnson said the degrees have been built with employers to help meet the needs of the workforce.
"We have made very clear that higher education expansion does not mean more of the same. We need expansion to reflect the needs of the economy and the economy is telling us it needs more graduates with specific skills at a particular level," he said.
"We expect three-quarters of a million new jobs over the next decade to be at the associate professional level - from medical technicians to aircraft engineers and teaching assistants."
Mr Johnson also said that the expansion does not represent a threat to the availability of honours degree places.
(gmcg)
The new degrees aim to increase the number of people qualified at higher technician and associate professional level - like legal executives, engineering technicians, personnel officers, laboratory technicians and teaching assistants.
The increase announced today should mean at least 70,000 full and part time students are studying for the degrees in two years time, up from the 12,400 that were on courses last year.
Figures from the universities admissions service, UCAS, show that more students are choosing the degrees and more institutions are offering them. They will be able to bid for the extra places and for funds to develop new programmes.
Education Minister Alan Johnson said the degrees have been built with employers to help meet the needs of the workforce.
"We have made very clear that higher education expansion does not mean more of the same. We need expansion to reflect the needs of the economy and the economy is telling us it needs more graduates with specific skills at a particular level," he said.
"We expect three-quarters of a million new jobs over the next decade to be at the associate professional level - from medical technicians to aircraft engineers and teaching assistants."
Mr Johnson also said that the expansion does not represent a threat to the availability of honours degree places.
(gmcg)
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Crunch On School Places Could Reach 'Tipping Point' - LGA
Schools may be pushed to "breaking point" after council leaders are warning ahead of the deadline for primary school admissions. Thursday, 15 January, is the deadline for parents to apply for primary school places for September 2015. The parents of some 370,000 three- and four-year-olds will apply for a school place for their child.
Crunch On School Places Could Reach 'Tipping Point' - LGA
Schools may be pushed to "breaking point" after council leaders are warning ahead of the deadline for primary school admissions. Thursday, 15 January, is the deadline for parents to apply for primary school places for September 2015. The parents of some 370,000 three- and four-year-olds will apply for a school place for their child.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
